I learned really quickly that when making anything in the kitchen if I didn't give her a task than she'd give herself a task and that task usually involved trying to grab the knife and/or trying to touch the hot stove.
Last summer a friend suggested just letting her hang out in the kitchen and helping, that turned into letting her "help" by washing off the fruit or trying the ingredients and morphed into adding more and more task as she got older and could do more. She helped make appetizers for Valentine's Day and helping with the dishes (what is it about the kitchen sink that draws kids to it?), and puts food into measuring cups. It can get messy, but who cares, she's learning and it's fun!
Enter...Dora and Diego Let's Cook!
Overview from BN:
Dora and Diego teach kids to make awesome (and healthy!) recipes-and learn Spanish along the way.
Just in time for the tenth anniversary of Dora the Explorer-the top-rated preschool program on commercial television-comes Dora and Diego Let's Cook, a cookbook from Nickelodeon that gets kids safely exploring and learning in the kitchen. Guided by Dora and Diego, kids will help measure, stir, shape, and decorate 50 exciting and super-tasty recipes like Pirate Adventure Pizza Coins and Incan Quinoa Pudding-all while learning Spanish words and phrases.
These simple, delicious recipes emphasize healthful ingredients children ...
If you have a kidlet that loves Dora and Diego as much as my kidlet, owning this cookbook is a must. It has a lovely guide at the beginning that helps parents figure out age appropriate tasks for their kiddos to do as they create things like Dora's Backpack Snack Pack, Diego's Silly Snake Sticks and the two we, or should I say Aunt Nellie and the tiny person, made Boot's Banana Pancakes and Tico's Nutty Stuffed French Toast (you can look at these recipes more closely on Amazon).
I look forward to buying more ingredients for these simple recipes and creating more of these wonderful concoctions. There's a silly face salad that Lila Jane is just itching to try.
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| It also makes excellent bed time reading. Yes, Lila wanted Aunt Nellie to read the Dora cookbook at bedtime. |
It really is interesting how kids love the kitchen. I adored being in the kitchen as a kid. but now I HATE it. LOL. I can only enjoy food when someone else cooks for me! How sad is that ...
ReplyDeleteLovely blog and lovely little one...;0)
ReplyDeleteI'm hopping over from the A to Z Challenge...and thank you for stopping by my blog today...I'm a new follower. Good luck with the challenge!
Donna Martin
www.donasdays.blogspot.com
It's great to see Dora again (my kids are 10, 12, and 13). In one of my intros on social media I mention that I'm a MAP (mother, author, professor) hoping that parents like you get a kick out of it.
ReplyDeleteRhia at Five Minute Piece for Inspiration (around #871 on A to Z list...it changes each day so...)
The picture book is a great idea! Whatever works. For my son, it was watching Cooking with Emeril. To my son, Emeril was like a rockstar. And he wanted to cook like Emeril. I said, "You know, Emeril tries everything." Since then, my son is the bravest eater I know. He'll try more things than me!
ReplyDeleteGetting kids familiar with the kitchen is important! I let our kids help and do some cleanup. (little jobs)
ReplyDeleteIt could pay off in the future.
That is so darn cute! My kids love to help cook too.
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you! :)
Such a great place to learn wonderful skills and have fun! I wish my son enjoyed cooking - too many sensory issues. Best I can do is cookies with him :)
ReplyDeleteStopping by from A to Z
cheers,
jen